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To every one's surprise, however, Teeny-bits held his position and gradually began to force Durant nearer the side line. No one else was in the race. The captain glanced sideways and saw who his pursuer was; he veered further toward the left and concentrated on speed; still Teeny-bits held his own.
He did not approach the skill of some of the first team members, particularly Neil Durant, the captain, who regularly romped through the scrub as if they were wooden Indians, but he did seem to have a natural ability to dodge and to worm his way through opposing tacklers. An incident occurred on the last Wednesday of October that had a distinct influence on Teeny-bits' career.
"Often," she said. "Often." She was pouring the tea as she spoke. Her head was slightly bent. "And so you took pity on me?" said Durant. She shook her head suddenly and vigorously. "It wasn't that, sir," she said in a very low voice. "I I wanted someone to speak to." "I see," said Durant gently. He added after a moment: "Do you know, I am glad I chanced to be that someone."
"It is an easy matter to explain; Miss Dennis knows all about such things; and I'm going to help, though they haven't honored me with an appointment." At a sign from the lady, Mr. Durant stepped back to his platform and announced:
Durant listened to this prayer in spite of himself; there was a something about it which held him spell-bound, fascinated; and he forgot, for the moment, that his followers were awaiting his orders everything, in fact, but the one scene before him, the man on his knees at the stake.
The work was new, those in charge were not at that time experienced, funds were scarce, and the credit of the Company not yet established, and as a result the average rate of progress during the first twelve months was but a mile a week. The work of construction was in charge of Vice-President and General Manager, Thomas C. Durant.
Just as Durant concluded his speech, the tramp of horses' feet was heard in the distance, and the cry raised by the Indians: "White man come! white man come!" All hands sprung to unmoor the canoes, which were in readiness, concealed among the drooping branches of some trees which overhung the margin of the stream.
With a tremendous effort Challoner rolled himself and his adversary out of the patch of light into darkness again. Durant's thick neck cracked. Again Grouse Piet called out in that guttural, questioning voice. Challoner put every ounce of his energy into the crook of his arm, and Durant did not answer. Then the weight of Grouse Piet fell upon them, and his great hands groped for Challoner's neck.
This was not the kind of a reply expected, and Durant changed his discourse from an insinuating tone to a direct manner. "I perceive it will be necessary for me to render my meaning more explicit, and I now change the form of my query, and beg to know how you would probably feel, were you compelled to witness the burning of your lover at the stake?"
Albinia kissed the confused and blushing maiden, and walked away, provoked, yet diverted. She found Gilbert alone, and was not slow in coming to the point, endeavouring to model her treatment on that of her brother, the General, towards his aide-de-camp in the like predicaments. 'Gilbert, I want to speak to you. I am afraid you have been making yourself troublesome to Miss Durant.
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